Box Score OWENSBORO, Ky. - Kentucky Wesleyan forward C.J. Blackwell scored a game-high 20 points to help lead the Panthers to a 78-58 victory over the visiting Kentucky State Thorobreds in a non-conference men's basketball game on Tuesday night at the Sportscenter.

After Kentucky State (1-4) took a 14-13 lead with 11:34 left on the first half clock, Kentucky Wesleyan (8-3) took the lead right back on a TreBoutilier layup and never trailed again.

The teams were very evenly matched in the opening half with both squads shooting 42 percent from the floor. Where the Panthers began to separate themselves was on the boards. Kentucky Wesleyan outrebounded the Thorobreds 23-15 in the first half. KWC took a 33-28 lead into the locker room at halftime.

In the second half, Kentucky State cut the lead to six when starting forward Tim Bates sunk a pair of free-throws to cut the KWC lead to 46-40 with just under 15 minutes left in the game. From there the Panthers slowly built their lead up, wearing the Thorobreds down with a 32-18 run to close out the contest.

Freshman Malcolm Smith scored a team-high 15 points off the bench to lead Kentucky State offensively. Senior Ulysses Thomas III finished the contest with 13 points but he struggled in the second half, going 2-of-8 from the floor in the final frame. Thomas was one of three to finish with a team-high six rebounds for KSU. The other two were Bates, who also had 10 points, and starting center Julius Barton who had 10 points to go along with three blocks.

Blackwell pulled down 10 boards to finish with a double-double for the Panthers. Ken-JahBosley finished with 14 points and seven rebounds. Starting point guard MarcusFillyaw had a game-high five assists.

Next up for the Thorobreds is a road trip to Trevecca Nazarene University on Friday, Dec. 19. Tip-off against the Trojans is set for 7 p.m. (CT) at the Trojan Fieldhouse.